It’s been a tough week out there, Folks.

From coaching clients fearing job insecurity to colleagues blindsided by career setbacks, and even personal setbacks like receiving harsh feedback, it’s been a whirlwind of emotions.

In moments like these, it's crucial to pause, reflect and navigate through the storm.

Like lots of folks who receive tough feedback, my first reaction was defensive, “What? No way!” Then I tried to explain it away as overly critical, but once the initial sting settled, it was time for me to do a self-reflection. As you’ve often heard me say, “The question we have to ask ourselves after failure is:

‘What am I here to learn?'

I dug into the comments. I adjusted based on the feedback. I made the changes and got back in the saddle again. I have to admit…I lost a bit of my swagger. I felt the nerves the next day when I was back on stage. I couldn’t quite shake the feeling of failure. It was a stark reminder of the fragility of confidence.

I’m somewhat surprised by how much I have perseverated on that negative feedback this week. I’ve done at least 1,000 speeches over the course of my life with rave reviews that led to lots of referral business and spurred me into a career I hadn’t even known existed. Yet I fixated on this one critical voice to the point where I wondered if I’d lost my mojo.

A confidence guru without his mojo is no guru, after all.

I think it’s important for me to share how I got my groove back.

 Embrace Kindness and Grace.

The kindness and grace of the leader delivering critical feedback impacts resilience. Even though my agent was reluctant, they brought it forward and trusted me to act on it. Most importantly, they reminded me of my stellar reputation in past performances and urged me to reflect and move forward.

Bounce Back After Reflection.

Often, if we imagine the advice we would give to someone we care about, it can help us gain perspective and formulate a plan forward. In my case, I was fortunate to be presented with a similar situation from a coaching client in the same week. I noticed myself listening to the advice I was offering. My conversation with the coach who abruptly lost their position was:

“Go find another team to coach. We are in the high-performance world where competition is the name of the game, and a team’s change in direction comes for all of us. Just like we wouldn’t expect a player that we cut from our national team to quit the sport altogether, it would be ridiculous for you to walk away from the sport just because someone didn’t believe in you or because you stumbled in your first kick at the can chasing your dream.”

Failure can be Fuel.

Failure is not the opposite of success; it's a stepping stone towards it. If you are at the top of your game or industry, it’s fierce.

The tough critical feedback that came at me caused me to question every speech I ever delivered. My thoughts were full of doubt: ‘Did I get it right? Are my transitions even? Am I going to offend anyone with this example? Is my language correct?’ For me, speaking is a purpose-driven calling I use to help others succeed. Suddenly, I had to steady myself against the reflex of walking away from it all. Ask yourself, “How much power do I let this one piece of feedback have over me?”

Nobody does anything Great Alone.

In moments of doubt, the unwavering support of others can reignite our sense of purpose. Audience members who came up to me after my next talk or sent me positive messages on various channels helped me believe again. Thank you! Never underestimate the impact you can have, my friends, by spreading a little joy and optimism into the hearts of those around you.

In the end, resilience isn't just about weathering the storm; it's about emerging stronger on the other side. So, to anyone grappling with self-doubt or facing adversity, remember:  #WEGotThis!